Enrolling with HBTA
Assessment overview
Assessment Overview | Marking | Assessment methods | Examinations
Our learning and assessment methodologies are set out in more detail in the Study Guide you will receive when you enrol.
Our methods are based on accelerated learning techniques to provide experiences that are relevant and useful to you in daily work. There are no hypothetical assessments based on writing reports of 'how I could do this'. By undertaking the assessments you will prove that 'I can do this'.
As professional instructional designers, we provide you with resources that meet current pathology collection requirements. These are validated against the standard and against current practice to ensure that you receive the best training and most relevant assessments possible.
All assessments are based on practical application of the skills you will actually use as a pathology specimen collector. Workshops provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate that you have the sills, while assessments in the other core units will require to you to apply your skills and demonstrate that you "can do this".
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Marking System
HBTA and AHPT Solutions do not use a grading system. Unlike some other training organisations, we do not pass someone as competent if they are only right 50% or 75% of the time.
You will only have your competency confirmed when you are able to demonstrate 100% of the required standard. An outcome of "CA" or "Competency Achieved" is therefore equivalent to "High Distinction" from TAFE or most Universities.
We therefore do not award the status of "CA" lightly, either in our practical workshops or under Recognition assessments. We are bound by legislation and ethics to judge you competent only when you can prove to us that you are .
As one University lecturer put it, you might feel satisfied with a "Pass" or "Credit" grade, but anything less than full competency on a consistent basis - getting it completely right all the time - can mean dismissal in an employment situation and potentially being sued by a client.
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Assessment methods
There is nothing 'hidden' about the assessments you will undertake and it is clear from the study guide when particular assessments will occur as well as what they will be. Whether completing self-paced or workshop pathways, all candidates receive a student manual with all assessment activities included as well as an indication of which part of a Unit each assessment addresses.
We encourage candidates to complete all required assessment tasks in the order specified since each one tends to build towards later assessment tasks.
Formative (practice) tasks allow you to prepare for the summative (end of module) assessments and in some cases allow you to complete the summative assessment tasks in stages. You may therefore be coached against the standards by your trainers and fellow participants (where this occurs within a workshop) over a period of time before actually submitting your evidence for marking.
To give you the best chance of attaining this high standard, you will complete multiple assessment tasks throughout your module rather than a single exercise at the end of it. The assessments have all been specifically designed to give you optimum exposure to a range of skills and documentation required for Best Practice in this industry.By the time most candidates submit their assessments, they are demonstrating the required standard and have competency confirmed on their first attempt. It is extremely rare to meet a candidate that fails completely in all areas of assessment for any given Unit.
Where you are judged not yet competent (NYC) in any assessment activity, you will be given feedback on how to improve your performance and opportunities to bring your work up to the required standard. Alternative assessment activities may be required, but these will always be clarified with you first.
Assessments may include either individually or in combination:
- preparing (for example) letters, reports, spreadsheets
- completion of work-based projects and work portfolios
- practical demonstrations of competencies in workshops and simulated or actual on-job observation (where required and/or appropriate)
Simulated practical assessments are designed to mirror industry working conditions and may include:
- skills required to communicate, motivate or educate staff
- interaction with external organizations (where required by a unit), such as in making travel bookings or arrangements for planning an event
- occupational health and safety awareness and implementation
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Examinations
HBTA does not use examinations as a summative assessment tool. We do not believe these are an appropriate method of evaluating your ability to apply knowledge and skills.
We evaluate your understanding of the principles and the application of knowledge and skills which often takes time to develop. Examinations evaluate your ability to cram as much information into your head (usually the night before) and with the result that most of what you crammed is lost a few weeks or months later.
All of you who are terrified of facing an examination at the end of your training can settle back and relax! Those who prefer and look forward to final exams, please accept our apologies.
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Last updated on August 13, 2008